The Road Back to You Study Guide

by Ian Morgan Cron, Suzanne Stabile

Missio Alliance Essential Reading List

Want to go deeper into the Enneagram? Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile have created a content-rich companion to their book The Road Back to You. For those who don't yet know their number, it will offer further opportunity to explore the numbers, and for those who already do, it offers an opportunity to reflect on implications for growth.

This study guide features

An overview of the Enneagram with new material about a helpful tool for growthFive sessions with questions appropriate for personal growth or group discussion, with space to writeReflections from individuals of each type about what it's like to be their numberWhether you are on your own or meeting with a group, this guide will help you to grow in knowledge of yourself, compassion for others, and love for God.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Psychology, Christian, Faith, Personal Development, Christian Non Fiction

65 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 4, 2016

About the author

Ian Morgan Cron is a bestselling author, nationally recognized speaker, Enneagram teacher, trained psychotherapist, Dove Award–winning songwriter, and Episcopal priest. His books include the novel Chasing Francis and spiritual memoir Jesus, My Father, the CIA, and Me. Ian draws on an array of disciplines—from psychology to the arts, Christian spirituality and theology—to help people enter more deeply into conversation with God and the mystery of their own lives. He and his wife, Anne, live in Nashville, Tennessee.

Reviews

[Anne Gerth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to secure an advanced reading copy of this book and I couldn't wait to dig in. Terrific book on the enneagram! This book is easy to read and understand. Thre is a bit of the history but then it delves into each category. It was delightful to "hear" the author's humor throughout the book. There were moment I actually laughed out loud. He must be a hoot in person! I started this book already familiar with the enneagram but desiring a refresher. This book was a delightful refresher and educated without the dry textbook feeling included. If you desire to know yourslf better...read this book.

[Megan Kreitzberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Road Back to You is a very accessible and thorough take on the enneagram. It's easy to read and provides several examples through story of each type. The authors tone is down to earth and relatable. It helped clarify my type for me. If you have read Richard Rohr's book on the enneagram and struggled with the academic language, give this a try!

[Joel McKoy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like "The Road Back to You" and highly recommend it but I didn't feel like the study guide had enough additional material to justify the additional expense. I kind of wish the redundancies had been removed and what was left added as an appendix to the book itself.

[Cathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful Questions

This high-level study guide provides a good companion to the book. Questions and discussion points direct the readers thoughts thru the initial stages of self discovery. Can be done alone but could be more beneficial in a group setting.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great read. Very helpful, for myself, in many ways. Although, I'm not positive on my number, I've got a good idea where I fall on the scale! IT IS incredibly helpful to see where others might be coming from who exhibit various behavior and habits. Compassion is easier to see if you have but an inkling as to where that attitude may be coming from...perhaps it's that someone feels threatened...not really that they are trying to act out just to frustrate you. Understanding the motivations behind many behaviors can help us all treat one another with more dignity and love. Compassion is the main goal of this book, I think. Giving it out freely to yourself and extending it to others before passing harsh judgment...perhaps maybe we can pass on a helpful word or some strength instead of pointing out something in someone we happen to perceive as a weakness at that moment. Compassion...Grace...it's free to give away, we can afford it, a lot of it.

[Catherine Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some useful extra take-aways that weren't in "The Road Back to You" like the SNAP tool (stop.notice.ask.pivot, the "ask" part apparently inspired by Katie Byron's "4 questions", which makes me now also want to check out Byron's work, the main thing seems to be questioning the validity of your negative thoughts as they arise) and some pertinent supplementary questions for each type. I'll have to come back and make notes on what resonated the most for me as well as look up the books mentioned in the bibliography at the back. Very short book (60 pages) with some pages only containing just a few questions, so very quick read in all (what will take longer is reflecting on the questions).

[Charity · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this many times, and it's always one of the easiest to "grasp" Enneagram books. It has clear distinctions between types, individual stories to go along with them, and a warm but also warning "tone" that helps lovingly point out the virtues and flaws of each number. It's always the book I hand people who want to learn more about themselves and others. It also has a good track record of helping them find their type -- just about everyone I've shared it with knew their number almost immediately, because they are so easily identifiable in this book. Don't overthink it. Just read it.

[Ali Varghese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Accidentally purchased the study guide online instead of the actual book. While the study guide did not go as deep in explanation, I already had an understanding of what the enneagram is so the study was quite helpful as it contains a short summary of each type and questions that go along with each section. Definitely would recommend doing this in a group setting. Completing some of the questions by yourself isn’t as fun!

[Logan Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this by myself as I was reading TRBTY and I think I would have rated it higher had I been part of a group discussing it. The author notes that it can be done either way, but I found myself wishing I had a person from each Enneagram type to discuss the questions with. I highly recommend the actual book!

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

while you can definitely read The Road Back To You and benefit from its contents without the study guide, some additional found in this little book helped to define and differentiate more clearly some of the concepts discussed in the book, and the questions in the back of each chapter helped to keep our study group on track when we veered off course!

[Dr Ariel Rainey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a love-hate relationship with the eanneagram, but I do think this book is good because it definitely explains the Biblical concept of God creating us unique and that all our gifts and personalities are meant to be for His glory. Knowing ourselves allows us to work more fully on loving others and offering the world our gifts for the benefit of the Lord.

[Chad CG · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great! I love how it is orientated as a book to enhance and guide you alongside a spiritual journey. I think that this book helped me understand myself and those around me better and gave me a lot of insight into the way people think. It gave me compassion for those who see things different and revealed a lot in my own heart that needs attention. What a great tool this book is!

[lisa mouatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very complex theory based on asssessing each individual with a set of characteristics that seem to fit their personality with “wings” of behavior to account for the multi faceted complexities in the human personality that add to a personality . While I think it has some merit, like many of these things….it would seem to make a new religion out of the idea. I will pass….

[puma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good intro to the enneagram, makes it's more user friendly but in the process diminishes some of the depth of the tool. Additionally, doesn't draw strong theological parallels. However, I love the tone, with, and relatability.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick synopsis of the original book. If you want a fast reference to your main Enneagram type, or want to learn about other types in a speedy fashion, this is a great reference. Good companion to the main book, which would facilitate interesting group discussions.

[Ashley Smeby]

This was a great addition to the book. It was a really great guide, especially since we read the book in a group setting. It had great prompts to help you think about how you feel and interact with other numbers.

[Rebecca]

Did this with 5 family members and none of us shared a number so there was plenty to talk about and relate to. I like the additional text in the study guide and how it nicely augmented the book chapters.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected to find this more useful than I did.

[Mary Francisco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book because it gave a lot of great insight into the strengthens and weakness of different personalities.

[Cathy Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely get this book if you are studying enneagram with The Road Back to You.

[Melodie Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great resource to utilize when reading The Road Back to You in a group or as a study by yourself.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredibly helpful little study guide. Easy access--but good for long-term health and wholeness.

[Yettee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thinking

I now will side on my porch and contemplate all that I have read. It brings me closer to me.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great companion piece for the book. I found the additional insights helpful, and the SNAP tool helped lead to some significant shifts for me in terms of beliefs I have about myself.

[Kirk Weikart · Rating 2 out of 5]

This workbook did not add materially to my enneagram indoctrination.

[Edward Alvarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good book to get started on the Enneagram, makes it easy to discover one's Enneagram type.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good over view of the Ennegram.

[Brandy Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the simple style of this study guide to reiterate what I read in the book ! Really helped to solidify what I had discovered about my number as I read the book.

[Cara Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

study guide is great!

[Don Kitson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gave me a different perspective on human interaction.